coyote 300x225 Live coyote sales partially stopped in IndianaIt is not exactly the victory we would hope for, a year-round ban on live-caught coyotes, but earlier this month, the Indiana Natural Resources Commission (NRC) adopted a new rule change prohibiting the sale of live coyotes caught outside the hunting and trapping season, which runs from October 15 to March 15. Although not a total victory, this is a huge blow against the live-export industry and thus the hunting and trapping industry.

Indiana is the largest exporter of live-caught coyotes. These coyotes are often used in dog “training” sessions where multiple dogs are released upon a single coyote trapped in an enclosed area. The dogs are scored on how quickly they find and kill the coyote. This “training” is nothing more than legalized dog fighting, but its multiple dogs against one coyote.

The rule change does nothing to stop coyotes from being live-caught during the off-season, but rather states that they must be released or killed within 24 hours. However, during the public hearing period, many trappers stated that they would not be able to continue “removing the nuisance species” if they were unable to use the live coyotes because it would no longer be economically viable for them. This was there way of threatening the DNR and NRC; “if you don’t let us do what we want, you’ll have coyotes everywhere.” Thankfully the NRC saw through this baseless threat.

Even though the rule only applies to a six-month period, it sets a new precedent that legally states that such practices are morally questionable. Our next step is to prove this practice is not only questionable, but morally bankrupt. While we will continue working with other groups to stop this practice year-round, we encourage everyone to thank the NRC for their action. Here is their contact info:

Indiana Government Center North
100 North Senate Avenue, Room N501
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 232-4699
(317) 233-2977 Fax

Or send them an email through their online contact form.